What happens when you try to make a sequel to a franchise where none of the original cast members return? Queen of the Damned, a continuation of the story began in Interview with the Vampire focusing on the continued adventures of Lestat.
Stuart Townsend takes over the reins of Lestat as he’s awoke from decades of slumber by crappy Nu Metal. Taking over the band he becomes the latest rock star de jour, which doesn’t sit well with the vampire community. His crappy music then awakens Akasha (Aaliyah), the first vampire, and shenanigans ensue.
2002 was a really odd year for film and music, of course, and this is one of the strangest sequels to come out. It’s supposed to be a sequel to Vampire but doesn’t follow that film in theme or tone. This is more camp as opposed to the original, which was more straight-forward and serious, but that partially comes because that cast was also fairly stellar. It’s kind of amusing that Tom Cruise didn’t play a rock star vampire but wound up playing a rock star earlier this year in Rock of Ages and Stuart Townsend is a massive downgrade in the role of Lestat.
It’s not that he’s a bad actor or necessarily bad in the role; he just doesn’t have the presence that a genuine movie star like Cruise has. He doesn’t feel like this massive, epic rock star Lestat becomes. It’s more like he’s a good actor trying to step into the shoes of a rock star. Queen doesn’t feel right because of it.
Queen of the Damned has an odd place in Anne Rice’s vampire mythos as a film because it feels like a stand-alone film trying to explore this unique character that also happens to be a sequel to another stand-alone film.
There’s a tribute to Aaliyah in the extras, as she died shortly after filming, which is a retrospective on her life. She was slated for The Matrix sequels and was replaced by Jada Pinkett-Smith at the time of her death. There are deleted scenes, a gag reel, a handful of music videos for Lestat and his Nu Metal band and extended concert sequences from the film.
Warner Bros. presents Queen of the Damned. Directed by Michael Rymer. Written by Scott Abbott and Michael Petroni based off the novel “The Queen of the Damned” by Anne Rice. Starring Stuart Townsend, Aaliyah. Running time: 101 minutes. Rated R. Released: September 18, 2012. Available at Amazon.com.
